In the Garden
HUI KU MAOLI OLA
‘Ihi
Latin name: Portulaca villosa Although this is a native species, today many varieties of Portulaca are imported. These alien species could easily become naturalized (as many have done) and hybridize with our native Portulaca. If so, it could mean the end of another unique, Native Hawaiian species.
Portulaca is available at Home Depot.
Description: A succulent, prostrate herb with narrow, pale green leaves. Flowers are attractive, emerging in clusters of two to five at the top of the leaves. The corolla is pink, white or white with pink margins and approximately an inch in diameter.
Distribution: This increasingly rare, endemic plant is naturally found on the dry rocky coasts of all the major islands except Niihau and Kauai, although it is also found on Ka'ula (off of Niihau) and on Nihoa in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands.
Landscape use and care: These make great bedding or accent plants. They are normally drought tolerant once established, and grow faster with daily watering. They look great around rock features and their vivid flowers add wonderful color to a landscape. They can also tolerate full sun and wind.
Few pests bother this plant, although mealy bugs are sometimes noticed on blooming flower clusters. This can be remedied by pinching off and tossing the old cluster or applying store-bought pesticides.
Rick Barboza co-owns Hui Ku Maoli Ola, a Native Hawaiian plant nursery, with Matt Schirman. "In the Garden" runs Fridays.
Gardening Calendar
In the Garden runs Fridays in Today.
